Westcliff Hard won the Essex Senior Cup for the first time since 1992 in a thrilling final at Woodford Wells Tennis Club.

The men's clash with Gidea Park ended at two matches apiece, but was settled in Westcliff's favour as they had one more set overall.

The vital set was won by Westcliff's Richard Barham and Stephen Cockell, who won the second set in a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 losing effort against Phil O'Leary and Frenchman Richmond Barrier.

Richard and Stephen had earlier beaten Carey Willson and Julian Lewis.

In the day's other matches, Hard men Simon Bonham and Simon Cheshire lost to rivals O'Leary and Barrier 6-2, 7-5, but bounced back to defeat Willson and Lewis 6-3, 7-5.

The last time a team from the club won a county cup final was when the second team triumphed eight years ago, and this victory was especially sweet given the high quality of opposition.

Gidea's O'Leary is a stalwart of the Great Britain over-45 squad, while Wilson has also represented England on numerous occasions.

Further local glory came in the Junior Cup as Westcliff Lawn Thirds - Cally Flinders, Sarah Ball, Sarah O'Sullivan, Fiona Fiske - made short work of Ongar to win 4-0.

But there was no such luck for Southend Lawn in the same competition when Tim Duran, Mark Connolly, Graham Taylor and James Bartram lost 4-0 to Danbury.

The competition provided an excellent spectacle in fine weather, and was ably refereed by Westcliff's Steve Wynn and Alan Pitt. Rayleigh's Harry Brickwood umpired proceedings.

(Right) Five stars - Westcliff Hard's Essex Cup-winning side of (left to right) Stephen Cockell, Simon Bonham, Lance Owen, Simon Cheshire and Richard Barham

(Left) Richard Barham

Disappointment for Essex

Essex struggled to a 4-1 defeat against their Cheshire counterparts.

Bob Hammond and Eddie Rooks were the only victors for the team, which also included John Adams and David Tomlinson.

But they were up against strong opponents, including national champion Tony Burgess.

Westcliff make it a double celebration

Westcliff Hard made it a double celebration when they won their Division Two League game against Cranbrook Castle 5-4.

Team members were Mark Bertola, Jeremy Harvey, Alan Hill, Temple Ray, Jamie Wilson and Matt Bradley.

Westcliff Lawn drew to within a point of their rivals from hard after a 5-1 win against Leigh in Men's Division One.

Leaders Hard lost 4-2 against Kent Elms.

Results

Men's

Division One: Rayleigh v Thorpe Bay 2-6 5-7, 6-2 6-2, 6-4 6-0 sets 4-2; Leigh v Westcliff Lawn 3-6 6-4, 1-6 3-6, 2-6 3-6 sets 1-5; Kent Elms v Westcliff Hard 7-5 4-6, 6-3 5-7, 6-3 6-2 sets 4-2; Division Two: Westcliff Hard II v Wickford 6-3 6-2, 6-1 6-1, 6-1 6-2 sets 6-0; Westcliff Lawn II v Invicta 4-6 5-7, 6-3 7-5, 6-4 3-6 sets 3-3; Hockley v Southend Lawn 6-4 6-4, 6-0 7-5, 6-0 6-1 sets 6-0; Wickford v Hockley 6-4 3-6, 6-4 7-5, 6-4 3-6 sets 4-2; Division Three: Thorpe Bay 2 v Westcliff Lawn 6-2 6-4 4-6 6-1, 6-2 7-5 sets 5-1; Invicta II 6-4 6-2, 7-5 4-6, 6-3 2-6 sets 4-2; LRB v Kent Elms II 0-6 1-6, 5-7 6-2, 1-5 1-5 sets 0-6; Division Four: Hadleigh Park v Rochford 4-6 1-6, 4-6 6-7, 6-0 6-1 sets 2-4; Westcliff Lawn IV v Thorpe Bay III 5-6 0-6, 4-6 6-1, 6-7 7-5 sets 2-4; Rayleigh II v Invicta III 6-3 7-5, 4-6 6-7, 1-6 6-3 sets 3-3; Invicta 3 v Hadleigh Park 7-5 2-6, 6-4 0-6, 0-6 0-6 sets 2-4;Division Five : Hockley II v Thorpe Bay IV 2-6 0-6, 2-6 3-6, 3-6 3-6 sets 0-6; Thorpe Bay IV v Kent Elms 6-1 6-2, 6-2 6-2, 5-7 6-1 sets 5-1;

Ladies

Division One: Westcliff Hard v Hockley 6-2 6-4, 4-6 6-4, 6-1 6-7 sets 4-2; Hadleigh Park v Kent Elms 5-7 1-6, 2-6 3-6, 3-6 3-6 sets 0-6; Thorpe Bay v Leigh 6-0 2-6, 6-0 6-1, 6-2 6-2 sets 5-1; Division Two: Southend Lawn v Westcliff 7-5 7-5, 5-7 2-6, 7-5 3-6 sets 3-3; Westcliff Lawn II v Rayleigh 6-3 7-6, 6-3 6-4, 7-6 6-3 sets 6-0; Kent Elms 2 v Thorpe Bay 2 6-0 6-3, 6-3 3-6, 6-7 6-7 sets 3-3; Division Three: Hadleigh II v Rayleigh II 2-6 4-6, 4-6 6-3, 0-6 4-6 sets 1-5; Westcliff Hard III 7-6 6-1, 7-5 6-4, 6-2 6-4;

League

Division One: Westcliff Hard v Leigh 6-1 6-1, 6-2 6-4, 6-4 5-7 sets 5-1; Thorpe Bay v Southend Lawn 7-6 2-6, 4-6 3-6, 6-3 6-2 sets 3-3; Leigh v Rayleigh 1-6, 0-6, 0-6 1-6, 6-2 0-6 sets 1-5; Division Two: Invicta v Hadleigh Park 5-7 1-6, 2-6 5-7, 6-1 4-6 sets 1-5; Division Three: Rayleigh II v Thorpe Bay II 7-5 6-4, 4-6 6-0, 1-6 3-6 sets 3-3; Hockley II v Kent Elms III 1-6 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-1 6-0 sets: 4-2; Kent Elms III v Westcliff Lawn II 6-0 6-4 6-3 3-6 3-6 2-6 sets 3-3; Thrope Bay II v Hockley II 6-2 3-6, 6-1 3-6, 4-6 6-3 sets 3-3; Division Four: Southend Lawn v LRBTC 7-6 4-6 0-6 6-3 4-6 4-6 sets 2-4; Wickford v Hockley III 6-2 6-4 6-1 6-3 6-1 6-1 sets 6-0; Hadleigh Park II v Thorpe Bay III 6-7 6-4 6-3 4-6 0-6 0-6 sets 2-4; Division Five: Westcliff Hard III v Kent Elms IV 4-6 2-6 6-1 4-6 6-2 7-5 sets 3-3; Crowstone v St Peters 6-4 7-6 6-2 6-1 7-6 7-5 sets 6-0

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